The fishing industry is also undergoing a process of reconstruction. Prior to the war, annual catches were nearly 600,000 tons. Although the annual catch sizes shrunk to some 35,000 tons during the war, the annual catch size since then has continued to rise. In 1993 the catch was 122,000 tons and 1994's catch estimate was even higher. Angola is building up its fishing fleet using money provided by the KU, Spain, Italy and the Arab Bank for African Economic Development (BADEA). Portugal's Banco Espirito Santo e Commercio de Lisboa provided a $6 million loan to the BNA in 1990 to help rehabilitate the fishing sector. EU assistance helped to overhaul refrigeration facilities at the southern ports of Tombwe and Namibe and to install a new production line at the Tombwe canning factory. Fish prices have been deregulated to encourage industry development and the Angolan government, with the help of the World Bank, has set up the Angolan Support Fund for Fisheries Development to support the industry. In 1994, the Angola government registered 16 new foreign investment proposals in the fishing sector.

Basic Facts

Angola's 1,600 kilometer coastline is rich with mackerel, tuna and sardines.
Pre-war annual catches were nearly 600,000 tons.

Although the annual catch shrunk to some 35,000 tons during the war, the annual catch size since then has continued to increase. In 1993, the catch was 122,000 tons and 1994's catch was even higher.
Fish prices have been deregulated and the Angolan government, with the help of the World Bank, has set up The Angolan Support Fund for Fisheries Development to support the industry.
In 1994, the Angolan government registered 16 new foreign investment proposals in the fisheries sector.

In Fisheries, lack of maintenance has meant that very few trawlers are operational. Foreign trawlers operate off the coast and in the fishing reserves in Angola waters. For this to become a profitable activity, maintenance facilities will have to be set up and the Government will have to adopt a policy of cultivating particular species of fish. Value added products such as smoked, salted fish and canned fish for export to the rest of Africa, especially land-locked countries in the sub-region, appear to be viable business opportunities in the medium-term. In the short-term, small businesses run by the Angolan fishermen who are given loans to purchase boats, generators and to set up basic processing activities may seem the way forward for achieving food security.

Note: This sector analysis is excerpted from a private sector strategy prepared in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Program for Angola's donors' conference held in Brussels, Belgium on September 25-26, 1995.